FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: News Media Contact:
July 10, 2000 Rosemary Kimball at (202) 418-0511
LARRY STRICKLING LEAVING THE COMMISSION;
DOROTHY ATTWOOD TO BE NAMED CHIEF OF COMMON CARRIER BUREAU;
ANNA GOMEZ NAMED CHAIRMAN'S SENIOR LEGAL ADVISOR
Washington, DC -- Dorothy Attwood, Senior Legal Advisor to the Chairman, will be
named Chief of the Common Carrier Bureau to replace Lawrence Strickling, who today
announced his resignation, effective at the end of July.
Anna Gomez, Deputy Chief of the International Bureau, has been named the Chairman's
Senior Legal Advisor, replacing Attwood.
Strickling has been Chief of the Common Carrier Bureau since November 1998. During
his stewardship as bureau chief, the Commission approved the first two applications that allowed
the Bell companies into the long distance market, adopted the comprehensive CALLS access
charge and universal service initiative, crafted new unbundling and collocation rules to facilitate
local competition, imposed tough new rules to combat slamming, and created the "rocket docket"
to resolve carrier disputes within 60 days.
Chairman Kennard said, "I am enormously grateful to Larry for so ably leading the
bureau at such a critical time. I am indebted to him for all his wonderful work and personal
sacrifice. I wish him well in his next endeavor."
Strickling came to the Commission in September 1997 to serve as Chairman of the FCC's
Competition Enforcement Task Force. He later became Associate General Counsel and Chief of
the Competition Division and then Deputy Chief of the Common Carrier Bureau. Prior to joining
the Commission, he was Vice President-Public Policy at Ameritech.
Upon leaving the Commission, Strickling intends to consult for the Aspen Institute's
Communications and Society Program while he explores other professional opportunities.
Attwood has been an advisor to the Chairman since July 1999, specializing in common
carrier, enforcement and consumer issues. Before coming to the Chairman's office, she was
Chief of the Common Carrier Bureau's Enforcement Division. She joined the Commission in
1996 and has served in the Policy and Program Planning Division of the Common Carrier
Bureau, and in the Office of General Counsel where she was involved in rulemaking
implementing the Telecommunications Act of 1996.
Chairman Kennard said of Attwood, "I am delighted that Dorothy will become chief of
the Common Carrier Bureau. As my senior legal advisor, Dorothy has brilliantly managed the
common carrier agenda. She will bring her impressive talents, and continuity, to her new role as
bureau chief."
Before joining the Commission, Attwood was a partner in the Philadelphia law firm of
Cozen & O'Conner, specializing in commercial litigation. She graduated Magna Cum Laude
from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 1987, where she was named Order of the
Coif, and also received an M.S. from the Wharton School.
Gomez has served as Deputy Chief of the International Bureau since October 1999. Prior
to that she was Chief of the Common Carrier Bureau's Network Services Division and had held
several positions in that bureau and in the Cable Services Bureau. She has also served as
Counsel to the Senate Commerce Committee's Telecommunications Subcommittee, and as
Deputy Chief of Staff at the White House's National Economic Council.
Chairman Kennard said, "Anna Gomez is a perfect choice to become my new senior
legal advisor. Anna is highly respected for her intelligence and interpersonal skills. With her
experience in three FCC bureaus and on Capitol Hill, she will hit the ground running."
Prior to joining the Commission, Gomez was an associate at Arnold and Porter. She
earned a B.A. from Pennsylvania State University and a J.D. from George Washington
University's National Law Center.
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Washington, D. C. 20554
This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order
constitutes official action. See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D.C. Circ 1974).